Anti-Gay Croatian Group Uses xx’s Music in Ad, Band Takes Legal Action

The members of The xx, one of the most popular indie bands in the world, took to their Facebook page Wednesday morning after learning an anti-gay Croatian organization has used their music in a promotional ad without approval.

"It has come to our attention that our music has been used without our permission in a promotional advert by the Croatian organisation ’U ime obitelji," The xx wrote on their Facebook. "We wish to state that we didn’t, and would never, approve the use of our music by this organisation. To be clear, we unconditionally support the equal right to marriage."

U ime obitelji, or In the Name of the Family, is an anti-gay marriage group that collected more than 700,000 signatures to force a constitutional referendum on same-sex marriage. The Croatian parliament will allow a public referendum on a constitutional amendment that would prevent same-sex couples from legally marrying. Voters will get to decide on the issue on Dec. 1.

The xx are reportedly taking legal action against U ime obitelji, as Clash magazine reports. The band’s record label, Young Turks, released a statement about the xx’s music being used in the ad.

"A Croatian organisation ’U ime obitelji’ has illegally used The xx’s music in their adverts. The xx didn’t, and would never, approve the use of their music by this organization," the statement reads. "Quite obviously, The xx unconditionally support the equal right to marriage regardless of sexuality. Because of all this, we’ll be taking legal action against the group to stop them using the bands music to promote the beliefs of ’U ime obitelji.’ Thanks to everyone that alerted us to this and good luck in the December 1st referendum."

As NME reports, U ime obitelji’s ad with the British band’s tunes has been taken down.